Locking means for tank-dome manhole covers



V. WILLOUGHBY LOCKING' MEANS FOR TANK-DOME MANHOLE GUVERS Jan. 22

Original Filed Nov.24, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet l v www, N k W W Jan. 22, 1929. Y 1,699,648 v. wxLLouGHBY LOCKING MEANS Y' FOR TANK DOME-MANHOLE COVERS Original Filed Nov.24, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 @www A w' i Jan. z2, 1929.

A riginal Filed Novum 192:4

V. WILLOUGHBY .fxgoz MEANS FOR TANK Dorm MANHOEE covsns' 3 Sheets-Shea?. 5

Wl////lllllllll//llll Patented den.. E2,

naiven eterne meente relevent onweer,

VICTR WILLO'GEBY, Ol RDGE'WQD, NEEV JERSEY, T0 AMEEIOAH AND FUUNDEY COMPANY, 0F NEW' YORK, N. Y., A CGE/Pll'lll' F NEW] morzine Ineens non nenn-none Mantiene oovnns.

Continuation of application No. 751,75), niort Novsmherft, 1924;. This application filed` January 26, 1926.

eral No. 233,98.

stood that the invention is not limited to the exact details ot construction shown and described, as it is obvious that various modiiicaf tions thereof Within the Vscope of the claims will occur to persons skilledy in the art.

ln said drawings:

l? 1 is a partial central vertical section of a teni; ear dome with a manhole cover, consti-noted in accordance with this invention, applied thereto, the manhole cover being` shown in the :fully closed position and partly ,in central vertical section and partly in elevat-ion;

Fig. 2 is a vievv similar to Fig. 1, drawn to `a larger scale, the manhole cover being shown in partly open position and the cover-locking means operated to prevent the removal ot the cover;

Fig. `3 is a top plan view ot the latches and the latch-supporting ring detached from the manhole cover.

l is a partial central vertical section ot a tank ar dome provided with a manhole cover and cover locking' means ot modied construction, the manhole cover being shown in partly raised position and the locking means operated to prevent removal of the manhole cover; and v Fig. 5 is a. view similar to l showing; the manhole cover ot Fig. l in the closed position and the looking means of Fin'. et in position to permit removal ol the manhole cover.

This application is e continuation oit my prior application, Serial No. 751,750, tiled Nov. 24, 192i-, and the invention disclosed herein relateJ to tanlr dome closures and has as an object the provision of an improved lmfkinzgg` means 'for the manhole cover which will be operated bjv the discharge troni .the manhole opening to prevent the `removal of the er ver it an attempt is made to remove the dome cover While the tank contains gas under such pressure as to `render the removal ot the cover dangerous.

ln the drav-fi "s the invention is shown in 1, 2 and 3 as applied to the usual tank dome 1 havin; a dome head 2 in which is the usual manhole openingl 3 surrounded by the eed dome ring l which is secured to the bead 2 bv the rivets 5.- lhe dome ringv M iotiter'iorlpT threaded at G to receive the threaded flange 7 of a manhole cover 8. "lhe cover 8 is substantiallg,Y theusual construction having a packing 9 which engages the upper edge of the deine ring 4l and" the vent openings 10 in the flange ri'he flange 7 is interiorly threaded as at 11 to receive the threaded flange 12 of a latch-supporting ring The ring 13 is providedwith slotted pro `jectino; lugs 15 which engage with the outer "tace 14e of theiiange 7. The bottoms of the lugs 15 are depressed belen?r the main body of the ring;` and curved to forni bearing' seats 17 for the cylindrical surfaces on the lugs 16 ot the latches 18. The latches 12 are provided with inwardly extending biturcated portions 19 which are engaged the outwardly proj ecting` iange 2O oi apanehaped member 21. The member 21 is secured to a pan-shaped member 22 which substantially iills they interior et the "manhole cover and has downwardly projecting` flange 2e which tits' loosely Within the `flange l2 oi the latchsupportingV ring:r 13. E

` In operation, when the manhole cover s closed and the latches 18 and members21 and 22 are in the positions shown in Fig. 1, should pressure develop in the tank it will Vedualine on opposite sides Yoi? the pan-shaped member 22 by leaking past the 'liange 24e. llillien an attempt is made to remove the manhole cover Without having previouslj vented the pressure from the tank, the oressure above the member 22 Will be vented through the ports 10 as soon as the ports l0 are opened b v movement ot the manhole cover away trom its seat on the dome. Venting the pressure from above member 22 Will permit the pressure beneath the member 22 and member 21 to toreo the members 22 and 21 to the top o'l2v the manhole. cover, whereupon the latches 18, through their connection with the langeQO ,oi' the member 21 will be rotated about their bearings in the seats 1'6" so as to bring; the `ends 26 oi the latches beneath the bottom ot the dome ring 4, While the shoulders 28 on the latches will engage with the ringtiann' 12 to prevent thelatches from being moved too tarf u,

tlith the latches moved to engaging posiq tion as shown in ig. 2, removal ot the matr hole cover will be prevented by the engagement oi the latches 1B Withtlie domering at..

lilith the latches engaged with the dome ring` it Will be :necessary in order to remove the cover to vent the pressure from the tank and return the manhole cover partly to the closed position in order that the latches may be returned to the position shown in Fig. l upon equalization of the pressures upon opposite sides ot the pan-members 21 and 22.

- Upon the return of the pan-members and latches to the positions shown in Fig. l the manhole cover may be removed. In case the latches and pan-members stick and do not return to the position shown in Fig. l. from the position shown in Fig. 2, the plug $90 closing the opening 32 in the top of the manhole cover may be removed and a stick inserted to torce the j ianmembers and latches to the release position.

In the` modified construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the dome head 2 is provided with the usual manhole opening 3 surrounded by a flanged dome ringl 4() which is secured to the dome head 2 by the rivets 5. Formed integral with the dome ring 40 are spaced lugs or ears 41 having openings .in which are mounted pins 42 which pivotally support locking bolts The bolts -l-il are adapted to engage bil'urcated lugs 44 which project from the manhole cover 45 in order to secure the cover 45 to the rinfr 40. The cover 45 is provided with a packing 46 which engages the upper edge oit the ring 49 and with a Vflange 47 of substantially Z-shape Vhaving parallel inwardly projecting portions 48 and 49 joined by an annular or ring portion 50. The cover 45 and the Harige 47 form a chamber having a circular opening leading thereto formed by the portion 49 of the flange 47. Additional openings a1 are formed in the portion 48 of the flange 47 adjacent the junction of the flange 47 and the cover 45. The portion 48 of the flange tits within the dome ring 40 and prevents the rapid discharge of pressure between the flange 47 and the dome ring 4() as well as serving to guide the cover 45 to its seat on the ring 40. Y In the opening lorn'led by the portion 49 ol the flange there is movably mounted a pan-shaped member which is secured `at its center to the upper flange 54 ol." a spool oreollar 56. Mounted in the collar 56 and project-ing upwardly from the member 52 at its center isa cylindrical stem 5S which is adapted to reciprocate in an opening 59 in a hollow boss 66 to guide the members 52 and 54. The boss 66 is toi-mcd integral with the cover and joins the inncrcnds of the reen forcing ribsv 62- at the center ol the cover.

Projecting downwardly trom the portions 49 and.50 of the flange 47 are U-shape supporting brackets 64 formed integral with` the flange 47 and having pins 66 mounted in the sides. Pivotally mounted on the pi s areangular latches 68having inwardlyiextending arms'70 which project between the upper flange 54 and the lower flange '72 of the collar 56. The latches 68 are also provided with arms 74 projecting upwardly at an angle to the arms and of suoli length that they will project beneath the edge of the dome head 2 about the opening 3 when the arms 70 are raised.

T he operation of the modified structure shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is the same as the operation ot' the structure shown in Figs. i, 2 and 3. With the cover 45 held in closed position by the bolts 43 and the member 52 in the position shown in Fig. 5, should pressure develop in the tank it will equalize on the opposite sides ot the member 52 by leakage between Vthe member 52 and the portion 49 ot the flange 47 and by leakage through the openings 76 in the member 52 and flange 54 of collar 56. In case enough of the bolts 43 are released when there is pressure in the tank to permit the pressure to raise the cover 45, the pressure above the member 52 will be` be vented through the openings 5l and the member 52 will be raised, with respect to the cover 45, by the pressure in the tank. Raising the member 52 will operate the latches 68 bringing` the arms 74 thereof beneath the ,i edge of the dome head 2, as shown in Fig. 4, and bringing the enlarged portions 78 of the arms 7 O into engagement with the portion 49 of the flange 47 and preventing the removal of the cover 45 from the manhole opening.

As soon as the pressure in the tank has been discharged by leakage past the flange 47 or member 52, the cover 45, member 52 and latches 68 will be returned by gravity to the positions shown in Fig. 5 whereupon the` cover 45 may be lifted from the opening. Should the member 5,2 be caught in the position shown in Fig. 4 it may be returned to the position shown in Fig. 5 by operating the stem 58 by means of a tool inserted in an opening 80 normally closed by the plug S2.

It will be npted that the pin openings 84 in the latches 68 are sufficiently larger than the pins 66 to permit the latches to bear di rectlv against the supporting brackets 64. It will also be noted that after the latches 66 and cover 45 are operated `to the positions shown in Fig. 4 the latches cannot be released as long as the pressure holds the cover in that position and that the stresses resulting :from f the pressure on the cover are transmitted directly to the cover 45`through the brackets 64 and flange portion 49 and to the dome head 2.

That is claimed is:

l. A tank with a manhole opening, a cover tor said opening, and pivotal means operative in response to the existence ot pressure in the tank when the cover is initially raised for thereupon locking the cover against removal.

2. A tank with a manhole opening, a cover for said opening, and means actuated by tank pressure for locking the cover against removal in response to venting `of pressure when said cover is initially raised.

l ll) `lill) nosas/ie l tank with manhole opening, a cover 'tor said opening, latches for preventing removal oi' the cover, and means responsive to the initial venting ot pressure vvlien the cover is raised for thereupon causing said latches to lock the cover.

A tank with a manhole opening, a cover for said opening, latches on said cover tor internally engaging the tank structure around said opening to prevent removal ot' the cover, and means responsive to tank pressure for causing engagement ot said latches as atoresaid.

A tank domo having a manhole opening, a. cover to said opening carried by said dome, latches tor preventing removal ot said cover, supporting means tor said latches carried by said cover and tluid pressure operated means tor operating said latches, responsive to the venting of pressure by opening et said cover.

6. A tank dome having a manhole opening, a cover for said opening carried by said dome, an annular member carried by said cover, latches for said cover mounted on said menihcr and means to operate said latches to dome engaging position upon a partial raising ot said cover from its seat on the dome.

T. A tank dome having a manhole opening, a cover tor said opening engaging said dome, latches carried by said cover, pressure operated means for engaging said latches with said dome normally subjected to equal pressures on opposite sides and means tor venting pressure from one side ot said pressure operated means to operate said pressure operated means.

8. A tank dome having a manhole opening, a cover for said opening engaging said dome and having vent openings, lat-ches pivotally mounted on said cover and means tor rotating said latches into engagement with said dome, said. means being normally subjected to equal pressures on opposite sides and operated upon the venting of pressure by said cover.

9. A. tank having a manhole opening, a cover t'or said opening, locking means for said cover and fluid pressure operated means for operating said looking means, said cover controlling the operation of said pressure open ated means.

l0. A tank having a manhole opening, a rover 'for said opening, locking means tor said cover and fluid pressure operated means tor operating said locking means, said fluid pressure operated means being` normally subjected to equal pressures upon opposite sides and operated by the venting ot pressure trom one sideV upon the raising ot said cover.

11. A tank having a manhole opening, a cover for said opening, locking means tor said cover and Huid pressure operated means vtor operating said locking means mounted on said cover, said fluid pressure operated means being normally subjected to equal tlanged cover tor said opening, locking means for said cover and fluid pressure operated means tor operating said locking means,

`'luid pressure operated moans being normally subjected to equal pressures upon oppo ite sides and said cover flange having openings tor venting pressure trom one sido of said presure opera-ted means and thereby lock the cover upon the raising of said cover.

13. A tank having a. manhole opening, a cover for said opening, and locking means tor said cover movable into and out ot locking position upon variations ot the pressure Within the tank andupon movement ot the cover whereby said pressure in the tank is varied.

la. A tank having a manhole opening, a cover for said opening, locking means for said cover, and means connected to said locking means and operative in response to variations in pressure resulting .trom opening ot said cover to move said locking means into and out ot locking position.

l5. A tank having a manhole opening, a cover tor said opening and locking means tor said cover operable after rotation ot the cover and a resulting partial venting ,of pressure 'from the tank.

16. A. tank having a manhole opening, a

cover for said opening, locking means ior said cover, and fluid pressure operated means for controlling the operation ot said locking means, said cover controlling the operation of said pressure ope-rated means upon rotation.

l?. A. tank having a manhole opening, a cover for said opening, locking means i'or the cover, and means connected to said locking means and operative in response to vai cover for the opening, and pivot-ed locking r upon unbalaneing oi' the pressures by parti al Venting of pressure from the tank.

'locking means to looking' position after partial venting of pressure from the tank.

22. A tank having a manhole opening, a cover for the opening, locking means for the cover, and means connected to said lookingl means and operative in response to variations in pressure in the tank resulting from venti115r of pressure therefrom to aotuate said locking means into and out of looking?y position. Y

23. A tank having a manhole opening7 a Cover therefor, locking means for the Cover, and means in the tank for operating the locking means normally subjected to balanced pressures and operating to shift said locking means to cover looking position upon unbalaneing of said pressures.

vIn Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

VICTOR WILLOUGHBY. 

